Council votes 9-0 to give up on new $38-million city hall; will move to get back in historic Vet's and occupy former federal courthouse

The council voted tonight, 9-0, to give up the idea of building a new, $38-million city hall.

The council also decided to immediately begin plans to reoccupy the Veterans Memorial Building and the former federa courthouse.

Several council members disputed the city staff's contention that the city needed 117,000 square feet of office space.

Council member Monica Vernon's suggestion prevailed: Move into the two historic buildings and assess what space needs as the buildings are renovated and reoccupied.

Vernon thinks both that the city's space needs are less than stated and that the city wil figure out how to best use space in the Vet's Building and the courthouse now that building designers know the city is going back into those buildings.